Chinese Winter Wonderland – Best Places to Visit in China in Winter

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival
The Ice and Snow Festival, undoubtedly Harbin’s most famous attraction for guided tours to China, is held in Zhaolin Park every winter from January 5th to the end of February. During the festival, the entire park is changed into a world of ice sculptures and lanterns. Fanciful and elaborate ice sculptures in the shapes of animals, plants, buildings or motifs taken from legends sparkle in the frigid air.

China Ski Resorts
Although ski resorts in China are still only beginning to be discovered by foreign travelers on tours around China, winter travelers to China are increasingly opting for China’s ski slopes as an alternative diversion. China’s ski resorts are concentrated in Northeast China and the region around Beijing; however, there are a few in West China such as the Xiling Ski Resort in Chengdu which is China’s most successful ski resort, and commonly referred to as ‘The Oriental Alps’ and is located in the heart of Sichuan Province. The ski resort’s proximity to a major transportation hub like Chengdu makes it easily accessible to both domestic as well as foreign skiing enthusiasts.
Yabuli Ski Resorts is in a class by itself among Chinese ski resorts that are included on China tours. It serves as the primary training venue for China’s national teams (Alpine, Nordic (aka Cross-Country) and Freestyle teams) which gives an idea of the quality of the slopes at Yabuli Ski Resort. The 1996 Asian Winter Games, the third such event in the series, was held at Yabuli Ski Resort.

Nanshan Ski Resort is the largest of its kind in northern China specializing in snowboarding. The ski resort also offers more of everything for the Alpine skier; more slopes in all skill categories than anywhere else in China in winter. Nanshan Ski Resort is also probably the Chinese ski resort when it comes to the availability of skiing and other snow-activity facilities for beginners on educational tours to China.

Huaibei Ski Resort is one of the earliest and largest ski resorts in Beijing and can accommodate 5,000 tourists in one day. Set in the Jiugukou Natural Scenic Area, which is known as the backyard of Beijing, the ski resort is surrounded by the Great Wall on three sides. Tourists on adventure China tours can get a fine view of the 4.5-kilometer long Great Wall from the Ming Dynasty. The ski trails in Huaibei International Ski Resort consist of one “magic carpet”, three chairlifts (the only ski resort where there is a chairlift for the beginners’ trail), four drag lifts, and eight trails (one advanced trail, three intermediate trails, and four beginner trails). There is also a ski park.

Mountain Snowscapes
Huangshan is famous for its marvelous and beautiful scenery and in winter, the mountains becomes a world of frost and ice with silver boughs and rocks everywhere. The Yellow Mountains is one of the best places to view snowy landscapes and rime and glaze scenery in China.

Mt. Emei, in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, is known for its sweeping cliffs, high reaching peaks, gushing waterfalls, gurgling springs, towering ancient trees and ancient temples. In winter the mountain is very quiet, free from the tourist crowds, allowing winter travelers looking for a unique China experience to enjoy the mountain, which is a blanket of white with a capping of snow-laden trees.

Mount Wawu is located to the southwest of Sichuan Hongya County, about 50 kilometers to the worldwide known Mt. Emei. Named for its flat summit, which resembles the tile roofed houses of ancient China, this mountain got its name figuratively, Tiled House Mountain and covers an area of more than 10 square kilometers. The summit is blanketed in primitive firs and dragon spruces. Several waterfalls can be found at Mount Wawu including the Lanxi cataract which drops 1,040 meters and is the most famous. Dove trees and azaleas spread along the mountain crest, providing a spectacular backdrop to mountain views on China tours. The mountain is snow-capped in winter time for about five months usually from late November to early March, giving the mountain a unique northern appearance.

Changbai Mountain, in the southeast part of Jilin Province, sits on the border between China and North Korea. Considered the most famous mountain in Northeast China, Mount Changbai is well known for its snowy scenery, cool summer and an abundance of mineral springs. Changbai Mountain International Natural Skiing Park is renowned as the largest ski resort in Asia with natural snow. Tourists can have fun skiing, make snow sculptures, and have snowball fights in the park. After a busy day trip, taking a bath in the hot spring around the foot of the mountain will relax your body and soul.

Beiji Village, Mohe
Mohe’s northernmost village some 88 kilometers from the county seat, the 1.2-square-kilometer park is the first of its kind in China. It features a Santa Claus House, a Christmas Post Office and snow buildings. Santa’s House is the headquarters of the village’s most important resident – a plump, white-bearded man in a red suit and cap who hands out presents to children. The two-floor wooden building is adorned with close to 100 Santa dolls. Decorations also hang from Christmas trees and there is a life-size model of a reindeer sleigh.

Hulunbuir
Hulunbuir Grassland, located in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, is known as the “most unsullied grassland” in China. Named after the Hulun and Buir lakes, the grassland features the beautiful scenery of vast grassland, forests, rivers and lakes, as well as the unique custom of the Mongolian ethnic group. The winter provides a totally different view. White vast land, clean blue sky, breathtaking scenery and various interesting activities – all of these make the place a world of beauty and fun for China holidays.

Jiuzhai Valley, Sichuan
Jiuzhai Valley, situated on the northwestern Sichuan Plateau and renowned as a nature’s magical fairyland, the valley enchants tourists on China tours with mountains, forests, lakes, waterfalls and teeming wildlife. Lakes around the valley vary in color according to their depths and angles, striking a lively contrast with the blue sky and snow-wrapped peaks. When winter comes, the mountains and trees are covered with snow. The colorful water contrasts against snow-white surroundings, making the area looks even more amazing.

Tianchi Lake Xingjiang China
Heavenly Lake (Tianchi Lake) is located at the waist of Bogda Peak, which is at the center of Heavenly Mountain. In the middle of Bogda Peak, 110 km (68miles) east of Urumqi, nestles Heavenly Lake. It covers an area of 1.9 square miles surrounded by towering dragon spruces and snow-capped mountains. With a gentle breeze blowing most of the time, it is an ideal place for skating competitions.

Jilin Rime
In China’s northeast Jilin Province, there is an unfrozen river, even in cold winter, running through the province, called Songhua River, both of whose banks are decorated with beautiful rime, the natural wonder representative of Jilin. Jilin Rime is well-known for its fantastic fusion of ice flowers hanging on pine trees. It is regarded as one of China’s four natural wonders, together with the Stone Forest in Yunnan, Mountains and Waters in Guilin and as the Three Gorges in the Yangtze River.